US 5,517,940 A · Variable width multi-hulled boat with telescoping mast

Abstract

A variable width boat includes a plurality of hulls and a width varying arrangement connected to and between the hulls for selectively moving the hulls between a closed, folded position and an extended, unfolded position in which the hulls are laterally spaced apart from one another. The variable width arrangement maintains the hulls in an upright, longitudinally fixed, substantially parallel relationship as the hulls are moved laterally between the closed and extended positions. In another aspect of the invention, a mast for use in a sailboat includes a mast assembly having a plurality of telescoping mast sections. The mast sections are arranged to collapse telescopically to permit the height of the mast to be reduced. The mast also includes a mast raising arrangement for raising and lowering the mast. In one preferred embodiment, the mast further includes a plurality of profiled sail supporting ribs each having a peripheral edge. The sail supporting ribs are connected to the upper end of an associated one of the mast sections and a covering is connected to the peripheral edge of the plurality of sail supporting ribs such that the sail supporting ribs and covering cooperate to form a wing shaped sail surface when the mast is in the raised position and the covering folds accordion style when the mast is in the lowered position.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A variable width boat comprising:

(a) a plurality of hulls each having a longitudinal axis;
(b) a collapsible beam operatively connecting the hulls;
(c) a plurality of structural panels pivotally connected to and between the hulls, the structural panels including laterally adjacent deck and roof panels pivotally connected to and between the hulls along axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the hulls such that the structural panels, in coordination with the collapsible beam, maintaining the hulls in an upright, substantially parallel, longitudinally fixed relationship while permitting the width of the boat to be varied between a closed position and an extended position in which the hulls are laterally spaced apart from one another, the deck and roof panels cooperating to form a usable cabin area and deck area when the boat is in the extended position;
and
(d) folding means for selectively moving the hulls between the closed position and an extended position and for folding the structural panels in coordination with collapsing the collapsible beam.

2 more elements

A method of launching and trailering a variable width multi-hulled boat to and from a body of water, the boat including a plurality of hulls and a width varying arrangement connected to and between the hulls for selectively moving the hulls between a folded, trailering position and an unfolded, normal operating position in which the hulls are laterally spaced apart from one another, the width varying arrangement including a collapsible beam and a plurality of deck and roof panels pivotally connected to and between the hulls such that the structural panels, in coordination with the collapsible beam, maintain the hulls in an upright, longitudinally fixed, substantially parallel relationship as the hulls are moved laterally between the folded and unfolded positions, the deck and roof panels cooperating to form a usable cabin area and deck area when the boat is in the unfolded position, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) launching the boat into the water from a suitable trailer with the boat in the folded, trailering position;
(b) with the boat in the water, operating the width varying arrangement such that the boat is moved from the folded position to the unfolded, normal operating position with the width varying arrangement maintaining the hulls in an upright, longitudinally fixed, substantially parallel relationship as the hulls are moved laterally from the folded position to the unfolded position, thereby forming the cabin area;
(c) in preparation for trailering the boat, clearing any passengers or provisions from interfering with the operation of the width varying arrangement,
(d) with the boat still in the water, operating the width varying arrangement such that the boat is moved from the unfolded, normal operating position to the folded, trailering position with the width varying arrangement maintaining the hulls in an upright, longitudinally fixed, substantially parallel relationship as the hulls are moved laterally from the unfolded position to the folded position;
and
(e) moving the boat onto the trailer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable width multi-hulled boat with telescoping mast

Life of this patent

Variable width multi-hulled boat with telescoping mast

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24